Swedish~ Stereo~

When it comes to collaboration with local Swedish artists world top-producer Max Martin seems to prefer working on anything but commercial pop. This year he was noticed on releases of Those Dancing Days and SOL/Stat & Orchestra Live and now it's Stockholm rock band Cervello that has managed to work with Max on one of their debut self-titled album tracks "Cause I Am".
Back in the beginning of 00s Max has shown he's able to make a brilliant alternative rock-music (Bon Jovi, Prime STH, Lambretta) which still sounds nowadays much more fresh than what he did in pop then and now he's back on a same track. "Cause I Am" is melodic alternative-ballad with expressive vocals, light feeling of American radio-rock and awesome guitar solo in middle-eight, world-level track that you can imagine appearing on for example Daughtry's album. By the way Cervello's album in common sounds like a crossover between Nickelback and Daughtry, very qualitative work produced by Henrik Edenhed (Dead By April, Robyn, Teddybears sthm, Fibes oh Fibes, Oh Laura) and I would recommend you to check another track "First Time" that was recorded with another star guest - John 5 (guitarist of Marilyn Manson).
Thanks for this tip to Jules.

Ladies and gentlemen E-Type's new single "Back 2 Life" is here!
Last year two old friends Max Martin and Martin "E-Type" Eriksson decided that it's time for eurodance-machine E-Type to come back, from the very beginning of E-Type's career they've made so many breakthroughs together and it was turn of another one!
Previous E-Type's album wasn't as grand in export as some old ones and it was a sign that team needs to change some formulas to bring E-Type back to the world for real and Max Martin who delivered some latest stunning dance anthems like "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love", "Hold It Against Me", "Time Machine", "Dynamite" knew what they need so policy of E-Type's comeback was to get rid of rap, church choruses and to lower bpm. In company with Shellback and Savan Kotecha new single was finished, packed and will be officialy delivered on Monday but as it's already has leaked we give you first listen immediately!
As it was promised "Back 2 Life" is quite far from classic E-Type's sound, it's not blasting straight to your ears with all power of E-Type's female vocalists but brings all joy and energy of modernized eurodance more delicate way. It's like a mix of Taio Cruz, Ke$ha and latest dance singles of Britney and Rihanna. Probably it's not what you expected but please don't judge fast, Max Martin knows what he does and maybe this is a sound that will put E-Type on a top of world dance-music again.
Here you can listen to the song and remix from one of the biggest Swedish DJs - Ali Payami.
And also take a look at this Spring tour dates on E-Type's site and video from photoshooting he did with Bingo Rimér.

Can there be anything more exciting than return of eurodance king Martin "E-Type" Eriksson with brand new single produced by not less than Max Martin who worked with E-Type on his biggest smash-hits?
In his blog this Autumn E-Type told that last summer he has recorded the song with working title "Eira's Song" (as the name of his new dog, but final title of the song will be another) borrowing Max Martin's studio and then Max Martin with John Shellback called him and asked him to come with all the stuff for the song and when E-Type has listened his re-produced song he's got goosebumps and promises great party song with recognizable E-Type sound but brand new, simple and crazy fun goodfeeling song. Song was initially planned to be released in the very beginning of the year but problems with E-Type's absence of contract has lead to delay. Now it's fine and single is to come very soon!
Martin also works on another new track with "girl who beat him out of the Eurovision song contest a few years ago" - obviously Sibel who has beaten him with The Poodles out in Second Chance of Melodifestivalen-2008. Sibel as great vocalist can sound awesome on dance record so I think it wouldn't be bad at all to get her as constant E-Type's vocalist if there's no chance to get back Sanne Karlsson who's currently involved in Play.
Above you can see Martin during new photo-shooting, looking too fresh in his 45!

There are no limits for perfection and even most brilliant albums can be a little bit more brilliant when artist adds some bonus-tracks so one of absolutely best albums of 2009 - "Pieces" by Erik Hassle has got deluxe re-edition. Actually it was released already in February on British iTunes together with original UK edition. I've missed it and if you've missed it also here are added bonus-tracks.
If I Could Build My Whole World Around You (featuring Agnes) - cover by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell that was performed back in 2009 on P3 Live Session when Agnes hasn't yet blast Europe with "Release Me" and was included in UK edition of Agnes album as well.
Nothing Else Matters (Metallica cover) - one of numerous brilliant Erik's covers which you can find on youtube.
I Probably Want You Now (new song) - new little more positive song than you could expect from Erik but very well however.
Who's Gonna Walk You Home (featuring Malin Dahlström) - another nice duet with less popular but sweet singer.

But what stays the greatest diamond of British edition to my opinion is "Standing Where You Left Me" - powerful energetic pop-rock song with catchy synth lines, great tune and Erik's unique voice. First time I saw the name Kronlund in credits I thought that Alexander Kronlund worked on this track but later I've found that it's another Kronlund with first name starting on L due to some sites. Another recent revelation for me was that Max Martin worked on another track "Love Me To Pieces", that guy feels really talented people to connect with!

Erik Grönwall, the winner of Idol-2009, in a few months after his victory and debut cover-album releases follow-up "Somewhere Between A Rock And A Hard Place". I should mention that first album "Erik Grönwall" held the first place of album-chart around a month that is not weak at all for Swedish Idol's winner and the winning single "Higher" was holding 6 weeks on the first place of single-chart also. Can new album achieve the same success? We will know very soon, album is already in sale and you can taste the pieces of it below. How we could suppose it's a completely rock-album, you won't find here such a modern pop-songs like "Higher" but you'll find a lot of 80s and 90s rock-songs perfectly suiting Erik's voice from set of brilliant songwriters like Joey Tempest (Europe), Sharon Vaughn, Michel Zitron, Max Martin, David Stenmarck, Brian McFadden, Johan Becker, Jörgen Elofsson, Andreas Carlsson, Paul Stanley (Kiss), Epicentre, Nicke Borg (Backyard Babies) and many others. Well, check and judge yourself!

Katy Perry's back! And this girl knows necessary people to put on a record to make it successful. After "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold" making her one of the biggest names in world's pop-music she makes comeback with another Max Martin's hit "California Gurls" - pleasant summer electro-pop hit that she wrote as well with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco involved in production of the new single. Not that pop-rock song you probably expected but nice however!